Hay-machine.



3 Shee tsSheet l.

Patented Mar. 25. I902.

E. J. SLOUGH.

H AY [I AG H I N E, (Application filed De c. 10, 1901.

(No Model.)

W Attorney I THE "dams PETERS co, Pqo'rautnou WASHINGTON, n. c.

I INVENTOR WW N0.'696,207., Patented Mar. 25, I902.

E. Jl-SLOUGH.

HAY MACHINE.

(A lication filed Dec. 10, 1901.)- (llo Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- pw jvELsg? lNVEAf'ijkt y/z 7 y Alloryzey m: cams vqzas c0., Pump-Luna.WASHINGTON, n. c.

Patented mar. 25, I902.

E. J. sLoualL H A Y I A G H I N E. (Application filed Deg. 10, 1991;!

3 SheetsShaei 3.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR Attorney I WITNESSES v THE cams vzreas co, Puo'rou ma,WASNINGTON, n. c.

UNITED [ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER J. SLOUGH, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

HAY-MACHINE.

EiPEGIFICATIUN forming part Of Letters Patent No. 696,207, dated March25, 1902. Application filed December 10, 1901. Serial No. 85,415. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ELMER J. SLOUGH, a

, citizen of the United States, residing at Peo-- ria, in the county ofPeoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hay-Machines; andI do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to machines for loading and baling hay in thefield; and it consists in the novel construction and combina-. tion ofthe parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, whereby the hay israked up fromthe ground, is loaded into a baling-p'ress, in which it isformed into bales and discharged, and the bales are elevated anddelivered clear of the machine.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the machine, showing thegeneral arrangement of its parts. Fig. 2 is a side view of thebaling-press. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the baling-press.Fig. 4 is a plan view of the baling-press. Fig. 5 is a front view of theclutch mechanism, drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 6 is a, plan view of thesame. Fig. 7 is a detail side view of the arm and detent on theneedle-shaft.

A is a frame of any approved construction, which is mounted on mainwheels B and caster-wheels (3, so that it can be drawn about thehay-field by means of a draft-pole b. The main Wheels 13 are mounted onan aXle c, which is revolved by one or both of the said main wheels asthe machine is drawn along.

D is a counter-shaft journaled in the frame A and driven continuouslyfrom the axle c as the machine is drawn forward by means ofsprocket-wheels and a drive-chain d.

E is a hay loader of approved construction, which is supported by theframe A at the front end of the machine. This hay-loader is providedwith two endless conveyer-belts e e, which are arranged one above theother in an inclined position and are supported by suitable rollers. Therollers at the upper end of the hay-loader are connected together byintergearing toothed wheels f, so that the two conveyer-belts areconstrained to move the table and slides down it.

in opposite directions. The toothed wheels fand the rollers are revolvedfrom the counter-shaft D by means of suitable intermediate drivingdevices F, which will cause them to revolve, so as to move the belts inthe directions of the arrows in Fig. 1. The lower end portion of thehay-loader'is provided with suitable projecting rake-teeth F, which pickup the loose hay from the ground and guide it into the space between thetwo conveyerbelts. These belts conduct the hay to the upperend of thehay-loader and discharge it into the upper end of the baling-chamber.

G is the baling-chamber, in which the hay is pressed into oblongsquare-cornered bales and tied with twine or wire at each end. Thebaling-charnber G is inclined in the opposite direction from thehay-loader, and it is supported by the frame A over the axle c. Thebaling-chamber and the mechanism by means of which the hay is baled andbound in it will be more fully described hereinafter.

After the hay has been baled and boundthe bales of hay are dischargedone after another from the lower end of the baling-chamher and arereceived upon an elevator H. This elevator H is supported from the frameA in any approved manner, and it is provided with an endlessconveyer-belt it, carried by suitable rollers at its ends. The lowerroller of the conveyer is driven from the axle o by means of beveledtoothed wheels 72/ and intermediate driving devices. The elevator Hextends in an inclined position laterally of the machine, so that thebales are elevated and are discharged clear of the track or path of themachine and may be received in a wagon or cart for carrying them away.

The upper part of the press-chamber has converging sides 2 and a lowerside or table 3, which has a series of longitudinal slots 4 in it. Theupper part of the chamber forms a sort of hopper for the hay, whichfalls upon The hay is slightly compressed between the elevatorbelts e e,and owing to the inclination of the press-chamber it slides down thetable by gravity into engagement with the packing mechanism, and nointermediate conveying mechanism is required between the hay-loader andthe packing mechanism of the press.

I is the packer-shaft, which is journaled in the frame A under the tableand which has a series of cranks 'i formed in it.

1 represents the packers, which are mounted on the cranks t and whichwork through the slots in the table. The packers are arranged atintervals across the press-chamber, and as many are used as is found togive the best result. The cranks engage with the middle parts of thepackers, and the lower ends of the packers are connected to a stationarycross-bar 4' by means of pivoted rods 5.

J represents inclined spring-bars, having hay-stopsj at their lowerends. These haystops are portions of the bars set at an angle to themain parts of the bars, and they project upwardly and slide in holes atabout the middle of the top of the press-chamber. The upperend portionsof the spring-bars are secured to the top of the press-chamber, and thespring-bars bear downwardly on the hay. Vhen the packer-shaft isrevolved, the packers pack the hay into the lower part ofthepress-chamber. The spring-bars rise as the hay is forced under them anddescend when the hay is packed into a bale in the lower rectangular partof the press-chamber, so that the stops} prevent the hay from movingupwardly in the press-chamber. The packershaft is revolved from a shortshaft (3, journaled crosswise under the press-chamber, by means ofint-ergearing toothed Wheels 7, and the shaftG is revolved from thecounter-shaft D by means of adrive-chain 8 and sprocketwith a pivotedend-gate K, which normallycloses its outlet. This end-gate is providedwith a shaft 7.: at its lower edge, and this shaft is journaled in thelower parts of two arms 10. The upper parts of these arms are pivoted tothe sides of the baling-chamber by pins 11. The binding mechanism isoperated intermittently and is set in motion by the pressure of the baleof hay against the endgate, which causes the said end-gate to moverearwardly to a slight 'extent, but not sufficient to relieve theunbound bale of the pressure by which it is held in shape. An arm 12 issecured on one end of the shaft 7t. A

. lever 13 is pivoted on a pin 14, which projects' from the side of thepress-chamber, and this lever has a roller 14 at its middle part foroperating it. A frame 15 is pivoted to the free end of the lever 13, and16 is a spring which works in the said frame. The free end of the arm 12is operatively connected with the spring by a rod 17, so that the springnormally holds the end-gate closed and permits it to move to a verysmall extent rearward without moving the lever 13. The rod 17 isprovided with a nut 18 for regulating the pressure of the spring andadjusting the extent of the rearward motion of the endgate, as this hasto be prearranged and set with great nicety.

ill is the needle-shaft, j ournaled in the frame A under thebalingchamber behind the packer-shaft, and m represents two needles seenred on the said shaft. These needles work through longitudinal slots 19in the table 3.

N is the kicker-shaft, journaled in the frame A above the baling-chamberbehind the haystops, and n represents kickers secured on the said shaft.These kickers consist of arms which work through longitudinal slots 21in the top of the press-chamber and which eject the bale at the propertime. A toothed wheel 22 is secured on one end of the kicker-shaft N andhas a cam 23 formed in one side of it. This cam engages with theroller14 of the lever 13 and operates to throw open the end-gate at the propertime. The packer-shaft I has a toothed wheel 24 mounted loosely on it,and this toothed wheel is operatively connected with the toothed wheel22 on the kicker-shaft by means of two;intergearing toothed idle her.The toothed wheels 24, 25, 25, and 22 are preferably so proportionedthat the packershaft makes four revolutions to one revolution of thekicker-shaft. The needle-shaft M is operated from the kicker-shaft bymeans of a connecting-rod 27, which engages with a crank-pin 28,projecting from the toothed wheel-22, and with a pin 29 on an arm 30,which is secured on one end of the needleshaft.

The toothed Wheel 24 is connected with the packer-shaft by clutchmechanism which-is controlled by thearm 12 on the shaft of the end-gate.This clutch mechanism is preferably constructed as follows: A trip-lever31 is pivoted on a pin 32, projecting from the frame A, and its lowerend is connected With the arm 12 by means of a jointed rod 33 or otherequivalent flexible connection. A detent 34 is pivoted on theneedle-shaft M and is connected with the arm 30 on said'shaft by aspring The packer-shaft I has a clutch member 36 secured on it, and thisclutchmember is provided with two laterally-proj ecting rollers 37. Thetoothed wheel 24 on the packer-shaft has a dog 40 pivoted to it by meansof a pin 41, and this dog has a nose 42, which is arranged in the pathof the end of the detent'34 when the said detent is in its normalposition. The dog 40 also has a projection 42 for engaging with therollers of the clutch member 36 and a stop 43 for bearing on the hub ofthe clutch member. A spring 44 is provided and operates to move the doginto connection with the clutch member when released from the detent.When the pressure of the baled hay on the end-gate turns the arm 12slightly, the upper end of the trip-lever 3l raises the detent againstthe pressure of the spring 35 out of engagement with the nose of the dog40.

The dog being thus released is turned on its pivot by its spring 44, sothat its projection I 42 is moved into the path of one or the other ofthe rollers 37 of the clutch member which is being revolved by thepacker-shaft. The packer-shaft now revolves the toothed wheel 24 andactuates thekicker-shaft and the needle-shaft by means of the toothedWheels and driving devices hereinbefore described.

The baling or press chamber G has a movable bottom-plate O at its lowerpart, the lower end of which is pivoted to the shaft of the end gate.The upper end of the plate 0 is pivoted to short arms 45 on the shanksof the needles, so that when the needles are moved upward the plate 0 isdrawn downward and forward toward the packer-shaft. This motion of theplate 0 presses the endgate hard against the baled hay at the time whenthe twine, wires, or cords are being tightened around the bale andknotted, so as to secure the hay in the form ofabale, The baled hay issqueezed tightly between the end-gate and the needles by the forwardmotion of the plate 0, and this motion also re: leases the hay slightlyin a vertical direction at the same time,- thereby giving the bale agood shape.

The kicker-shaft is revolved intermittently in one direction. Theneedle-shaft is oscillated back and forth by means of its connecting-rod, because the arm 30 is longer than the distance. between thekickershaft and the crank-pin 28.

P represents the knotters for the twine, secured on the kicker-shaftclose to the kickers. These knotters are notherein fully described andshown, as they are knotters of approved construction, such as used ongrain-binding harvesting-machines. The twine is passed under the haybefore the hay is baled, and the twine is connected to the knotters inthe usual way. When the needles are raised, they carry a bight of thetwine with them,and their points pass close adjacent to the knotters.The knotting mechanism knots the twine and cuts it off in the usualmanner, leaving the rear ends of the twine connected to the knotters, sothat the twine is arranged behind the next bale as the hay is forcedinto the baling-chamber. The continued motion of the kicker shaft causesthe needles to descend, and the cam throws open the end-gate.

1. The combination, with a hay-loader, ofa.

hay-baling chamber arranged in an inclined position and having slots inits lower side or table, the upper part of the said chamber beingconnected with the top of the hay-loader, and packers which work in saidslots and the At this time the, revolving kickers strike the bale andejectit pack the hay which slides down the inclined table, substantiallyas set forth.

2. The combination, with a hay-loader, ofa

hay-baling chamber arranged in an inclined 70 said slots and pack thehay which slides through the said hopperand down the inclined table,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a hay-loader pro vided with a pair ofinclinedelevators between which the hay is pressed and elevated, of aninclined hay-baling chamber provided with slots in its lower side ortable and receiving the hay from the said hay-loader, and packers whichwork in the said slots and packthe hay which slides over the said table,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a hay-loader, of a hay-balingchamber providedwith an end-gate and having slots in its lower side or table, saidchamber receiving thehay from the said 0 loader,a revoluble packer-shaftprovided with. packers which work in some of the said slots andv operatecontinuously to pack the hay against the said. end-gate, andreciprocatory binding-needles which work in other of the 5 said slotsand which operate intermittently and press the packed hay against theendgate after it has been packed by the packers, substantially as setforth.

5. The combination,with a hay-baling chamloo ber having slots in itslower side or table, of inclined spring stop-bars having their frontends secured to the top of the chamber and having lower end portions setat an angle to their main portionsand sliding in holes in the I05 middleportion of the top of the chamber, and packers which work in the saidslots of the table and pack the hay in the said chamber, substantiallyas set forth.

6. The combination,with a hay-baling cham- 1 IO her, and arms pivoted tothe rear part of the said chamber; of an end-gate pivoted to the saidarms and normally closing the said chamber, a bottom portion alsopivoted to the said arms, a needle-shaft under the said chamber, 1 15and binding-needles operated by the said needle-shaft and provided witharms which are pivotally connected with the said bottom portion,substantially as set forth.

7. The combination,with a hay-balin g cham- 1 2o ber, of an end-gate forthe chamber, a movable bottom portion for the rear part of the saidchamber connected to the said end-gate, a needle-shaft under the saidchamber, binding-needles operated by the said needle-shaft mechanismprovided with a spring connection which normally holds the end-gateclosed and permits it to move back to a limited extent, acontinuously-operated driving-shaft, packing mechanism operated by thesaid shaft and packing the hay against the endgate,intermittently-operating self-binding mechanism, driving devices for thesaid selfbinding mechanism provided with a clutch which connects themwith the said drivingshaft, and having also a cam which controls andoperates the said lever mechanism, and clutch-operating mechanismconnected with the said end-gate whereby the self-binding mechanism isactuated when the hay-presses back the end-gate to a prearranged extent,substantially as set forth.

9. Thecombination,withahay-balingchamher, and a movable end-gatetherefor; of lever mechanism provided with a spring connection whichnormally holds the end-gate closed and permits it to move back to alimited extent, a cam which controls and operates the said levermechanism, and driving devices for revolving the said cam intermittentlycontrolled by the said end-gate, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with a hay-baling chamber, and a movable end-gatetherefor; of lever mechanism provided with a spring connection whichnormally holds the end-gate closed and permits it to move back to alimited extent, a cam which controls and operates the said levermechanism, a drivingshaft, intermediate driving mechanism provided witha clutch and connecting the said cam with the driving-shaft, and tripmechanism actuated by the said end-gate and op erating to place the saidclutch in engagement with the said driving-shaft, substantially as setforth.

11. The combination, with a hay-baling chamber, and a movable end-gatetherefor;

of a kicker-shaft provided with means for discharging the bale from thesaid chamber, a cam secured on the kicker-shaft, lever connectionsbetween the said cam and end-gate, and means for revolving thekicker-shaft intermittently to open the end-gate and discharge the bale,substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with a hay-baling chamber, and a spring-supportedend-gate therefor; of an arm secured to the end-gate, mechanism foropening the end-gate provided with a clutch for operating itintermittently, a driving-shaft, a detent for holding the said clutchout of engagement with the said driving-shaft, a trip for operating thesaid detent, and a flexible connection between the said trip and arm,substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, with a hay-baling chamber, of a revolublekicker-shaft provided with discharging devices for the bales, a tootheddriving-wheel secured. on the said kicker-shaft and provided with acrank-pin, a driving-shaft, a clutchon the said drivingshaft, tootheddriving-wheels connecting the said clutch with the aforesaid toothedwheel, a needle-shaft, binding-needles operated by the saidneedle-shaft, an arm on the needleshaft, and a connecting-rod betweenthe said arm and crank-pin, said kicker-shaft and neodle-shaft beingoperated simultaneously when the clutch is ,placed in engagement withthe said driving-shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER J. SLOUGH.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WEs'r, ROBERT I'I. LOVETT.

